Hydraulic well-tool actuator



Sept. 29," 1925. r 1,555,376

H. H. JONES HYDRAULIC WELL TOOL ACTUATOR Filed July 14, 1924 fivcnfoz' 15 2217 ff Jam's 77% M/ 77% hi? 14270122: yrs

means.

STATES HARRY n. Janna-or FULLERTON; CALIFORNIA.

HYDRAULIC WELL-TOQL ACTUATOR.

T0 at 107mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY H. JONES, citizen of the United States, and resident of Fullerton, in the county of Orange, State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in a Hydraulic Well-Tool Actuator, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for actuating at will instruments by hydraulic More particularly, this invention pertains to the manipulation of instruments in holes by means of hydraulic pressure exerted by. liquid contained therein, which liquid is normally used for other purposes. The present invention is especially adaptable for us in hydraulic drilling of wells.

In hydraulic drilling of wells it is often desirable to manipulate tools within the hole, for illustration, to expand and contract reamers, underreamers, fishing tools, pipe cutters and splitters, and the like. These functions are" now commonly performed by means of springs, cables, and weighted parts, thereby being limited in their adaptability. The embodiment of the present invention disclosed herein is designed to employ the pressure of slush or circulation liquid in the drill piping, tubing or-casing of oil wells,

( so as to actuate an instrument or tool lo cated within the well remote fromtlie surface. The primary object of this invention is to provide an instrument of the character described, which is simple, durable, and compact.

These objects together with other objects and corresponding accomplishments are obtained by means of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is an axial section through an actuator connected to a string of drill pipe; and Fig. 2 is a section as seen on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, a section of drill pipe 3 has a coupling 4 of special construction connecting it to a conduit or tubular barrel 5. Another coupling 6 of special constructionis secured to the bottom of barrel 5 and serves for attaching the tool to be operated or fittings dis-- posed intermediate the tool and actuator. The bore of coupling 4 is reduced. in diameter at the center and internally threaded to receive a plug .7. The lower end of the reduced portion is also internally threaded Application filed July 14,

1924. Serial N 0. 726,062.

actuator and with the space 9. Extending through the coupling from the exterior to the bore thereof are ducts 11. These ducts communicate with the bore at a tapered plunger guide portion below the plug 7 and 'place the upper part of the bore of the cylinder in communication with the exterior of the drill pipe.

Coupling 6 has a bore of reduced diameter providing a slip litwith the cylinder 8, the latter extending below the coupling. Longitudinally extending passages 12 place the annular chamber 9 in communication with the bore of the tool or fitting connected thereto. The aggregate cross-sectional area of passages 12 is less than that of passages 10 in coupling 6.

A head 13 is screwed into the lower end of cylinder 8 and is provided with a bore and a stuffing box 14; through which may slidably extend the plunger connecting member 15. The cylinder 8 has its bore in communication with the annular chamber 9 through ports 16. Mounted upon the rod 15 is a plungeril? of suitable design.

The present invention is in no way limited to the characterof the tool to be maniputings to the coupling 6. Assume that the tool is an expansible' reamer, wherein the reamer c'utters'are tobe expanded when the tool has reached its working position. lhe rod .15 will be connected to the actuating member of the'tool by means of suitable linkage. Circulation is maintained down through the drill pipe, theliquid passing from the drill pipe through passages 10 to annular chamber 9 and from there onv through passages 12, and thence in the usual path to the tool.. J

The parts are so arranged that plunger 17 will be positioned in the lower portion of the cylinder above ports 16 when there is sure in the annular chamber 9. This pressure is transmitted to the lower side of plunger 17 through ports 16 in the cylinder. Pressure above the plunger 17 is less due to the pressure on the outside of the drill pipe. Because of this difference in pressure, the plunger 17 will be moved upwardly and ac tuate the tool. When the pump pressure is relieved preparatory to pulling the drill pipe and tool, the pressure on opposite sides of the plunger will be equalized and the weight and pull of the parts upon the plunger rods 15 will cause the plunger to be moved downwardly.

It is obvious that by reversing the points of inlet and outlet of the fluid, the plunger can be operated by the pressure so as to be pushed downwardly instead of upwardly. By making the passages 12 small and few in number as compared with the passages 10, liquid entering from pipe is being lowered causes little or no pressure to be applied to the plunger. On the other hand, when the pump is placed in operation, because of the small area of the openings in the bottom coupling, a pressure is at once created which acts directly on the plunger, raising or pushing down as the case ma be.

hat I claim is:

1. In combination with a conduit, spaced coupling members therein, a cylinder mounted between said coupling members forming an annular chamber between said conduit and cylinder for the passage of fluid about said cylinder, said coupling members having ducts extending therethrough, and a reciprocable piston mounted in said cylinder, one end of said cylinder communicating with a source of low pressure and the other end of said cylinder communicating with said passageway.

2. In combination with a conduit, spaced coupling members therein, a mounted between said coupling members forming a chamber between said conduit and cylinder" for the passage of fluid about said cylinder, said coupling members having ducts extending therethrough, and a reciprocable piston mounted in said cylinder, one end of said cylinder communicating with the exterior of said conduit and the other end of said cylinder communicating with said passageway.

3. In combination with a conduit, spaced coupling members therein, a cylinder mounted between said coupling members forming a chamber between said conduit and said cylinder for the passage of fluid about said below when the drillcylinder cylinder, coupling members having ducts extending therethrough, the aggregate cross-sectional area of the lower ducts being less than that of the upper'ducts, and a rcciprocable piston mounted in said cylinder, one end of said cylinder communicating with a source of low pressure and the other end of said cylinder communicating with said passageway.

a. In combination with a conduit, spaced coupling members in said conduit, a cylinder mounted between said coupling members forming a chamber between said conduit and said cylinder for the passage of fluid about said cylinder, coupling members. having ducts extending therethrough, the aggregate cross-sectional area of the lower ducts being less than that of the upper ducts, and a reciprocable piston mounted in said cylin der, one end of said cylinder communicating with the exterior of said conduit, and the other end of said cylinder communicating with said passage-way.

5. In combination with sections-of tubing, spaced coupling members secured to the ends thereof, a cylinder secured to and between said coupling members so as to form an annular chamber for the passage of fluid about said cylinder, heads closing the ends of said cylinder, said couplings have ducts extending longitudinally therethrough, one of said coupling members having transverse ports connecting the bore of said cylinder at one end with the exterior of said tubing, said cylinder communicating with said chamber at the other end, and a reciprocable piston mounted in said cylinder.

6. In combination with sections of tubing, spaced coupling members secured. to the ends thereof, a cylinder secured to and between said coupling members so as to form an annular chamber for the passage of fluid about said cylinder, heads closing the ends of said cylinder, each of said couplings having ducts extending longitudinally therethrough, the aggregate cross-seclional area of the ducts than that in the upper coupling, one of said coupling members having transverse ports connecting the bore of said cylinder at one end with the exterior of said tubing, said cylinder communicating with said chamber at the other end, and a reciprocable piston mounted in said cylinder.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 26th day of June, 1924-.

HARRY II. JONES.

being less in the lower coupling 

